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It is not a secret that the middle rounds of the NFL draft do not consistently produce household names that you will see on FOX or CBS every Sunday in the fall. However, much-needed depth and reliable role players that are so crucial to building a championship team are found in these rounds.
While these athletes are at almost every school across the country, the Big 12 is no exception. Just last year, the Patriots selected Rhamondre Stevenson, a halfback out of Oklahoma, while Carolina made Chubba Hubbard, a star out of Oklahoma State, the newest Panther. Both chosen in the fourth round, these two running back were significant contributors to their respective franchises.
Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma
An All Big-12 Second Team selection, Winfrey wreaked havoc on offenses last fall. Consistently rushing past linemen while also stopping the run for the Sooners last season, the defensive tackle was one of the best defensive players in the Big 12. His long arms give him an advantage against some of the best interior linemen in the country. Almost 41% of his tackles went for losses. However, too often, he does not find the quarterback or gets lost in the play.
Out of the 12 games Winfrey started last year, he had 23 tackles, 11 were for a loss, six sacks, and 17 hurries.
The Oklahoma product could go as high as the late second round on Friday night. However, look for Winfrey to come off the board somewhere between the middle and the end of the third. If he did fall to the fourth, it would be considered a steal for any team needing interior defensive line help.
Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma
Asamoah has been a pillar of consistency for the Sooners’ defense the past two seasons. Although he was not recognized nationally in 2020, he was a Butkus Award semifinalist, one of the most prestigious awards for a linebacker, and earned All-Big 12 Second Team honor in 2021. His ability to read the play and react right from the snap is impressive, along with his ability to rack up many solo tackles. However, his tendency to tackle the ball carrier high does lead to some broken tackles.
The Oklahoma linebacker started 11 games last year and led his team with 90 tackles, four for loss, two forced fumbles, and a sack.
Although Asamoah stepped his play up in 2021, there is a wide range where he could potentially be selected. The earliest he could come off the board is in the early third round, with his floor being somewhere in the late fourth. So look for Asamoah to be an early day three selection.
JT Woods, S, Baylor
Along with Jalen Pitre, the other Baylor safety who does get overshadowed in this draft class is JT Woods. Not only is Woods an intelligent player, being selected to the Big 12 Commissioners Honor Roll five times over, but he also has excellent speed. He can move like a true deep safety. Woods also brings his playmaking ability imperative for NFL teams striving to win a championship. However, while he does have track star speed, his broken assignments and lack of discipline at times are why he is not higher on most boards.
Starting in all 14 of Baylor’s games, Woods led the Big 12 with six interceptions last year and finished fourth on the team with 57 tackles.
Although the speedster could be a late third-round pick due to his potential, it is a better bet to put him squarely in the fourth round. If Woods were to slip to the fifth round, teams looking for safety help would receive great value for a player of his caliber.
Kalon Barnes, CB, Baylor
While JT Woods may look fast compared to other defensive backs, Kalon Barnes leaves Woods in the dust. Most notably known for his blazing time at the NFL combine, Barnes is unquestionably the fastest player in this year’s draft. However, with a 4.23 40-yard dash, Barnes relies on his speed, which is not always a good thing. As a result, he loses track of his covering duties and has to play catch up. However, teams may become enamored with his speed and become confident they can coach up this flaw.
In the ten games Barnes started, he recorded 23 tackles, five pass breakups, an interception, and a fumble recovery.
Barnes has a wide range where he could go due to his blazing speed and his nonchalant covering abilities. While he could sneak into the early fifth round, the late fifth or early sixth would be a more realistic possibility.
